PUBLISHED June 16th, 2017 06:00 am | UPDATED June 19th, 2017 02:44 pm
Did you know that pairing tea with your food can be just as enjoyable as doing so with wine? Which is why Dilmah Tea, the largest Ceylon tea brand in Sri Lanka, has organised the world’s first Dilmah Tea Inspired Awards to celebrate tea-inspired creations in Singapore.
From 1 June to 31 July 2017, 30 participating local cafes and casual restaurants will be offering a specially-curated Dilmah Tea Inspired Menu, from savoury dishes and pastries to drinks, and even cocktails. Trying all of them can be difficult, so we’ve taken the liberty of coming with our top 10 eats and drinks.
And psst, the more treats you try at the participating venues, the higher your chances are at winning a 3D2N staycation for two at a suite in M Social Hotel Singapore!
Open Farm Community
At Open Farm Community, the restaurant making waves for its meticulous use of quality farm-to-table produce, you’ll find a Dilmah tea-inspired menu of Quail, Mushroom and Apples ($48++) which pairs brilliantly with a pretty Peppermint Tambourine Cocktail ($26++) utilising Ron Zacapa, Lime Juice, Gomme, Mint Tuile as well as Pure Peppermint Tea from Dilmah. Enjoy both at a special price of $68++, and get your camera ready for some smoky theatrics too.
Open Farm Community is located at 130E Minden Rd, Singapore 248819, p. +65 6471 0306. Open Mon-Fri 12pm – 4pm, 6pm – 10pm, Sat-Sun 11am – 4pm, 6pm – 10pm.
Antoinette
The undisputed queen of local French patisseries, Antoinette, will see a fantastical Zen Garden ($9) made using lapsang souchong (a black tea from Fujian famous for its smoky flavour) dark chocolate mousse, caramelised hazelnut feuilletine, chocolate sponge cake, and a sweet chocolate chantilly cream. For the drink, how does a cutesy Yuzu Green Tea Bubble Bath ($12), complete with a rubber ducky, sound?
Antoinette is located at 30 Penhas Rd, Singapore 208188 & 333A Orchard Road, #02-33/34 Mandarin Gallery, Singapore 238897. Open Mon-Thu 11am – 10pm, Fri 11am – 10pm, Sat 10am – 11pm, Sun 10am – 10pm.
Non Entrée Desserts
Known for its sometimes-whacky creations, popular dessert cafe Non Entrée Desserts proves it’s not just about hipster-esque desserts with the Ike & Mallow Shrub Tea Set Meal ($22.90), a lush dish with fruits, herbs, flowers, and Dilmah tea mingling on your palette. Alternatively, go for the equally gorgeous Sunny dessert, paired with a pot of Chamomile Dream ($19.90).
Non Entrée Desserts is located at 204 Rangoon Rd, Hong Building, Singapore 218451, p. +65 9878 6543. Open Tue-Thu 2pm – 10pm, Fri 2pm – 11pm, Sat 12pm – 11pm, Sun 12pm – 10pm. Closed Mon.
1925 Brewing Co
Beer-inspired menus are the norm at The 1925 Brewing Co, but tea-inspired ones are a whole new ball game altogether. This time, Head Chef Ivan Yeo has created the Smoked Braised Duck Breast with Pickled Summer Greens, to be paired with none other than a Dilmah Tea variant of its signature 622 Dark Ale, available as a set for $38.
The 1925 Brewing Co. Restaurant is located at 369 Jln Besar, Singapore 208997, p. +65 6294 9215. Open Mon-Sat 10am – 12am, Sun 10am – 10pm.
Little Saigon
In a country where drinking tea is pretty much a hobby, it’s hardly surprising that Little Saigon has developed a marvellous tea pairing menu ($28) with Dilmah. Think Vietnamese Rice Noodle with Pho Bo Sauce infused with Ceylon Spice Chai Tea and Earl Grey Tea Marinated Beef Tenderloin, with a Dil Saigon Tea Mocktail to match.
Little Saigon is located at Blk E, Clarke Quay #01-02, River Valley Rd, Singapore 179024 p. +65 6337 5585. Open Mon-Thu 3pm – 1am, Fri 3pm – 3am, Sat 12pm – 3am, Sun 12pm – 1am.
The Terminal
The Terminal, a sleek and roomy Italian restaurant at Seletar Aerospace, has designed an elegant tea-inspired menu befitting of its space. The Last Petal of Spring ($8) is a colourful drink based on Dilmah’s Rose with French Vanilla, while the tea-infused dish Colours of Autumn ($18) sees a succulent aged duck with berry sauce and seasonal vegetables.
The Terminal is located at 12 Seletar Aerospace Crescent, Airbus Asia Training Centre, Singapore 797566, p. +65 6262 5038. Mon-Fri 8am – 9pm, Sat 8am – 5pm. Closed Sun.
Seven7h Cucina
Italian bistro Seven7h Cucina will be dishing out an epic set menu ($37.70) that includes its signature Seafood Cartoccio (seabass fillet, tiger prawn, black mussels, octopus, lobster broth) spiked with a special ingredient – oil made with Dilmah’s Lively Lime & Orange Tea. Enjoy the Magnitude 7.0 Mocktail of Pistachio Almond Tea Jelly, a Te’ Ranome Seh dessert of Berry Tea tuile, chocolate salsa, and Mint Green Tea, and finally, a special tea blend that sees Dilmah Berry Sensation mixed with calamanco and carbonated jelly.
Seven7h Cucina is located at #01-02 Novena Regency, 275 Thomson Rd, p. +65 6493 2134. Open daily 11am – 4pm, 5pm – 10.30pm.
:pluck
More than just modern Singaporean cooking, the cocktails at :pluck are to be remembered for life. For this competition, look out for the saccharine Lee Chee Boh Lai Chee ($16), which as you might have surmised from the name, uses lychee liqueur, vodka-infused Dilmah Chamomile, and a dash of honey to result in a drink that’s deliciously calming.
:pluck is located at 90 Club St, Singapore 069458, p. +65 6225 8286. Open Mon-Thu 12.30pm – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm, Fri 12.30pm – 3pm, 6pm – 1am. Sat 6pm– 1am.
The Modern Bibik with The Tea Party
Private chef Ange Neo (The Modern Bibik) collaborates with The Tea Party Cafe to present an exclusive Peranakan-style Tea Onigiri and Tea Broth Soup ($16.90, including a pot of Dilmah Tea of your choice), which combines Dilmah Chamomile with Lively Lime and Orange Tea. Alternatively, try the Midnight Tea-Rose Syrup Bandung ($5.50), and top up $2 for a signature Tea Party Cake to fill up the tummy!
The Tea Party Cafe is located at 103 Pasir Panjang Rd, Singapore 118531, p. +65 96991655. Open Mon-Thu 11.30am – 11.30pm, Fri-Sat 11.30am – 1.30am, Sun 11.30am – 12am.
Gourmet Plus
Gourmet Plus, the cosy Spanish-French gastrobar on the east coast, sees Dilmah’s Lively Lime & Orange Fusion infused into a Balinese Style Toman fish, served on a fluffy bed of quinoa (itself infused with Ceylon Spice Chai) for $34. How’s that for a tea-inspired menu?
Gourmet Plus is located at 117 Frankel Ave, Singapore 458232, p. +65 6441 1120. Open Mon-Sat 11.30am – 2.30pm, 5.30pm – 10.30pm, Sun & PHs 10.30am – 2.30pm, 5.30pm – 10.30pm. Closed Tue.
Now that you’re done with our list, go give the rest of the participating restaurants a try and select your favourite on your own! They are Spruce at Firestation, Kowloon Bay HK Cafe, Big Street, Two Tall Trees, Changi Cove Singapore, The Queen & Mangosteen, Canvas Gelato, Cornerstone, CM-PB, NOM, Boufé Boutique Café, Do.Main Bakery & Cafe, Fix Cafe, Anarchy Wine + Brew Bar, All Things Delicious, Cravings Cafe, The Wine Company, SQUE, and Montana Singapore.